This novel from the beginning of the 20th century is not very engaging: it's the story of a Swede called Heyst living on his own on a island in South-East Asia who encounters a miserable young lady at a hotel on a neighbouring island. He steals her away from Stromberg, the lascivious and vindictive hotel owner who sets three money-grabbing desperadoes on Heyst's trail.

Written in typical 19th century literary style, it is quite heavy-going but relatively engaging.